For a long time it was always believed that advancements in technology would eliminate the need for human workers, therefore limiting job opportunities. Many people still believe this today, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. While technology has been able to replace some human labor, it also opens up doors to different types of jobs at the same time.
This is even true in the healthcare industry. The future of healthcare will probably see a lot more wearable devices that keep track of vitals and send that information to doctors and specialists. This means that more people will have access to healthcare and more doctors will be needed to monitor and provide the necessary care.
Table of Contents
Which Healthcare Jobs Are Being Impacted by Technology?
Virtually every job in healthcare is being affected by technological advances in some sort of way, but some jobs are being impacted more than others.
Surgeons, Radiologists, and Physical Therapists
Robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) have already been making huge waves in healthcare. These technologies have allowed for surgical devices to be more precise than surgeons— all without having to completely eliminate the need for a surgeon because they are the ones who control these devices.
The same can be said about AI systems that can analyze x-rays and scans better than trained radiology technicians. This won’t eliminate the need for radiologists, but will instead require them to learn more about AI and even create supplementary radiology jobs.
Robotics and AI aren’t just used by doctors— advancements with robotic exoskeletons have improved the quality of life for paraplegics/quadriplegics and amputees. Again, this won’t replace medical professionals like physical therapists, but it will instead broaden their work and even create a demand for more physical therapists.
Physicians and Psychotherapists
Virtual reality, also known as VR, is a simulation that’s similar to the real world or it can be completely different. VR is usually associated with video games, but it’s also used in many other industries to help train individuals in combat and construction. It’s also made its way into the healthcare industry in the form of treating military soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and helping people recover quicker from a stroke.
VR in healthcare doesn’t eliminate the need for a therapist or a doctor. Instead, it gives new roles to healthcare professionals and even creates new tasks that can be turned into full-time work.
New Job Titles/Roles
One of the biggest changes we’ve seen in healthcare thanks to technology (and the COVID-19 pandemic) is virtual or remote healthcare. This is also known as telehealth or telemedicine, where doctors and patients can consult with each other through video chats, and also through phone calls and instant messaging. Virtual healthcare is a much more convenient way to attend a doctor’s appointment, especially when combined with wearables that can monitor a patient’s condition. Still, it doesn’t replace in-person medical care for things like blood work, dental treatments, and surgeries.
This creates the need for people to fill the role of “virtual hospital manager” because “virtual hospitals” need management just like traditional hospitals do. Other new job titles being created because of new technologies include:
- Health Finances Planner (financial planner that specializes in health finances)
- Precision Medicine Compounding Pharmacist (pharmacists who control machines that administer precision medicine)
- Reconstructive Surgery 3D Printing Specialist (combining 3D printing methods with live cells, called 3D bioprinting)
- Robotic Clinical Documentation Scribes (to proofread clinical documents that are automated)
- Voice Assistant Healthcare Content Specialists (human component to a virtual assistant)
Where Can Healthcare Professionals Find These Jobs?
These new roles can be found all over the United States and in various parts of the world. If you’re interested in medical technology specifically, some states have a higher concentration of these jobs than others. The top five states in the U.S. are as follows:
- Minnesota
- Utah
- Delaware
- Massachusetts
- Indiana
As a physician, you can also search for jobs specific to your niche by searching a specialty job site, rather than a generic one such as Indeed.com or Monster.com. This technique will make it easier for you to find a job in your specialty.
So when it comes to technological advancements in health, healthcare professionals are not at risk for losing their jobs. There may be certain parts of their job that they may no longer have to do thanks to technology, but eliminating one task often creates a new one. When several new tasks are created, new jobs are also created in the process.
